Gymnasts Jonathan Horton, Sam Mikulak and Jake Dalton named to U.S. Olympic team

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Sam Mikulak finishes the pommel horse during the final round of the 2012 US Olympic Trails for men's gymnastics at HP Pavilion in San Jose, Calif. on Saturday, June 30, 2012. (Jim Gensheimer/Staff)

Jonathan Horton performs on the rings during the final round of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trails for men's gymnastics at HP Pavilion in San Jose, California, Saturday, June 30, 2012. (Jim Gensheimer/San Jose Mercury News/MCT)

They joined Danell Leyva of Miami and John Orozco of the Bronx, N.Y., who won the two automatic berths Saturday by finishing first and second in the all-around and recording three or more top three finishers in the individual event standings.

“It is an amazing team,” Kevin Mazeika, men’s national team coordinator and the 2012 Olympic coach, said in a statement. “We knew all along it was going to be difficult to select the team because of our depth. It wasn’t easy but I think we have selected a team that is going to go to London and vie for a gold medal.”

Mazeika, who also coached the 2004 and ’08 teams, added, “I think we could have fielded three teams. My heart goes out to each of them. Everyone’s hard work has pushed us to the highest level, and each and every one of them is part of this team and what we accomplish.”

Horton, 26, is the only Olympic veteran, having won two medals in Beijing.

“I was a little stressed out just because I wasn’t too happy with how I finished up my meet,” he said in a statement. “I was a little nervous. I’m just happy that the committee trusts me. I will be able to sleep well tonight knowing that I accomplished my goal.”

So did Mikulak, 19, of Newport Coast. He had the best all-around score from Thursday night’s first trials session. But he competed only on the pommel horse Saturday after suffering a swollen ankle from landing his vault Thursday.

“It’s just ridiculous,” Mikulak said of being the last person announced. “They said ‘Jake’ and everyone clapped. And then, ‘Horton.’ And everyone clapped. And, ‘Sam.’ And I was just like, no way. So many emotions, and I was welling up. I can’t believe that this is happening right now — so much hard work has gone into it.”

If Mikulak’s ankle doesn’t heal the United States has plenty of options with the alternates.

One of those is Brooks, who tied Dalton in the four-day overall totals for fourth place. But Dalton won the vault and floor exercise to give him an edge when it comes to the harsh Olympic scoring system where everyone’s results count in the final.

“It is hard to put words on it,” Brooks said in a statement. “I guess I am feeling relieved, excited and nervous, all at one time. It is always a bit tough because you know you are going to do the work but not get to compete.”

Brooks knows how important his position is after watching 2008 Olympian Paul Hamm go out with a hand injury.

“Almost anything can happen to anyone, even the best,” Brooks said. “You always need to bring your ‘A Game’ and be ready to go.”

The team is considered the strongest since 1984 when the United States won a gold medal in the Soviet-boycotted L.A. Games. They are among the favorites to compete for a team gold medal with Japan and China.

The optimism is high because the strong bonds among the American men.

“It’s kind of like a college team,” said Vitaly Marinitch, Orozco’s coach at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo.

“It doesn’t stop here,” Reno’s Dalton said in a statement. “It continues and we’re going to work even harder to go London and do our best there.”

Leyva had a four-day combined score of 368.35, followed by Orozco (367.40), and Horton of Houston (361.50).

“It’s surreal, super unbelievable,” Leyva said Saturday. “It’s crazy to say that I just finished my first Olympic trials.”

Orozco, 19, also sounded elated about making it to the London Games. When asked about finishing behind Leyva, he shot back, “Who cares about that? I wanted him to do well. I really don’t care about the results. We all got through it. We all survived.

The women’s five-member team will be announced Sunday night sometime after the conclusion of the trials in San Jose. The all-around winner of the two-day trials will receive an automatic berth while a three-member committee will pick the other four gymnasts, plus alternates.

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